buying a car out of state

[jake12tech]

hey folks.. I don't usually post in this section at all, but am over in the diesel section for the most part. I wanted to see if anyone had any experience with this type of situation. I *might* be buying a car out of state (if it all went thru). I really want this particular car I want to ship, but I can't really fly out to do any paper work (title) with my health to sign etc. How would one do something like this? I would not even dare to have a title mailed and let it get lost somewhere. So not an option. any help much appreciated!

[tbomachines]

Done it a bunch of times...if you don't want to mail the title back and forth then I'm not sure what other options you have. Do it certified and tracked, pay via paypal.


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[gatorblue92]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Done it a bunch of times...if you don't want to mail the title back and forth then I'm not sure what other options you have. Do it certified and tracked, pay via paypal.


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This. Use either Fedex or UPS overnight for shipping the paperwork.

[JB3]

If you dont want to mail the title, mail some kind of bill of sale and sales contract instead.

Prsonally id do the certified mail route though and have the title in hand without question

[barry12345]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Done it a bunch of times...if you don't want to mail the title back and forth then I'm not sure what other options you have. Do it certified and tracked, pay via paypal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Courier it. Their letter rate should be bearable.

[tbomachines]

Originally Posted by JB3

If you dont want to mail the title, mail some kind of bill of sale and sales contract instead.

Prsonally id do the certified mail route though and have the title in hand without question

Lots of states require the actual title signed over, each state is different. If you can get away with just a bill of sale (possible for older cars), go for it.

[JB3]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Lots of states require the actual title signed over, each state is different. If you can get away with just a bill of sale (possible for older cars), go for it.

I was thinking more along the lines of putting the title in the car and having it shipped that way, if hes totally against mailing it. Still, that comes with its own dangers. Mailing a bill of sale or contract would only be about proving some kind of transaction actually happened

Best by far is mailing the title itself.

[jake12tech]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Lots of states require the actual title signed over, each state is different. If you can get away with just a bill of sale (possible for older cars), go for it.

I'm in PA too. I will have to look into this. I am not totally against mailing it the more I think of it. I am just over worrying a bit. I think I will try mailing if this works out. Thanks all for your suggestions. Very helpful.

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by JB3

If you dont want to mail the title, mail some kind of bill of sale and sales contract instead.

Prsonally id do the certified mail route though and have the title in hand without question

I did this with benhogan and it worked fine.

Others here refused to do it except in person.

Since I have once flown to pick up a car in person with CASH IN HAND only to find out the guy sold it several hours earlier, I want a piece of paper before I buy a ticket.


BTW that "someone" is on this forum!!!

If the seller doesn't want to sell with a sales contract and a clear acknowledged title, it makes me think the car and the person are suspect

[JB3]

Originally Posted by jake12tech

I'm in PA too. I will have to look into this. I am not totally against mailing it the more I think of it. I am just over worrying a bit. I think I will try mailing if this works out. Thanks all for your suggestions. Very helpful.

its not a title from a state that needs a notary to witness assignment of ownership, is it?

I grabbed my 115 sedan because it was a PA car with a PA title, that some guy had tried to flip and had a signed title without a buyer and no notary signature, and was stuck with the car and had to sell it for parts. Since my state does not require a title over 10 years, I knew id be able to legally register the vehicle as long as I had a previous registration, and the title fiasco would not be a problem.

[JB3]

Originally Posted by strelnik

I did this with benhogan and it worked fine.

Others here refused to do it except in person.

Since I have once flown to pick up a car in person with CASH IN HAND only to find out the guy sold it several hours earlier, I want a piece of paper before I buy a ticket.


BTW that "someone" is on this forum!!!

If the seller doesn't want to sell with a sales contract and a clear acknowledged title, it makes me think the car and the person are suspect

wow....
and they knew you were flying in? that must have been cause for some serious rage.

Reminds me of the time I bought a "running driving" 240 off ebay. Found out the car had a busted slave cylinder, owner, (a mb tech) promised to have one installed when I came to grab the car in 3 weeks. Drove over 1000 miles with full communication with the seller and him knowing when I was turning up, him telling me it was all ready to go. Start to get alarmed as I called him a few hundred miles away with an ETA and hes sounding freaked out and shifty.

Finally arrive at the car, no working slave cylinder, car has not been fixed, owner has keys, and is not returning my calls now that im there.

Fortunately for me, he had it parked at his shop where he worked, and I went in and talked to his boss about it, telling him id be camped out there and would be calling the cops if he didn't get this guy over there to do the 30 minute repair so I could leave. Boss was even more angry at the guy than I was.

[tbomachines]

Originally Posted by JB3

its not a title from a state that needs a notary to witness assignment of ownership, is it?

I grabbed my 115 sedan because it was a PA car with a PA title, that some guy had tried to flip and had a signed title without a buyer and no notary signature, and was stuck with the car and had to sell it for parts. Since my state does not require a title over 10 years, I knew id be able to legally register the vehicle as long as I had a previous registration, and the title fiasco would not be a problem.

YES. very important. I know people who have bought cars out of state and not gotten it notarized...then they are SOL. That is very important for registering in PA. Definitely do your homework with the DMV and make sure you can get all your ducks in a row prior to pulling the trigger.

FWIW I'm still a CT "resident" which is a lot more lenient with stuff like that. PA DMV laws are archaic and clearly designed by the non-enthusiast legislature (for example, registering a classic car requires it to be restored or appear restored and original condition, rather than having any type of modification on it). Switching soon though.

[jake12tech]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

YES. very important. I know people who have bought cars out of state and not gotten it notarized...then they are SOL. That is very important for registering in PA. Definitely do your homework with the DMV and make sure you can get all your ducks in a row prior to pulling the trigger.

FWIW I'm still a CT "resident" which is a lot more lenient with stuff like that. PA DMV laws are archaic and clearly designed by the non-enthusiast legislature (for example, registering a classic car requires it to be restored or appear restored and original condition, rather than having any type of modification on it). Switching soon though.

Eek I forgot about that one too. Yes, I looked and called around it would have to be signed in front of a notary if I wanted to register it in PA. Otherwise I'd be SOL. This is going to be a bit tough, but will get something figured out with the DMV. I think I will try and call both the PA DMV in Harrisburg, and the DMV of the state the car is perspectively coming from. The only thing I can think of.

[jake12tech]

Originally Posted by JB3

wow....
and they knew you were flying in? that must have been cause for some serious rage.

Reminds me of the time I bought a "running driving" 240 off ebay. Found out the car had a busted slave cylinder, owner, (a mb tech) promised to have one installed when I came to grab the car in 3 weeks. Drove over 1000 miles with full communication with the seller and him knowing when I was turning up, him telling me it was all ready to go. Start to get alarmed as I called him a few hundred miles away with an ETA and hes sounding freaked out and shifty.

Finally arrive at the car, no working slave cylinder, car has not been fixed, owner has keys, and is not returning my calls now that im there.

Fortunately for me, he had it parked at his shop where he worked, and I went in and talked to his boss about it, telling him id be camped out there and would be calling the cops if he didn't get this guy over there to do the 30 minute repair so I could leave. Boss was even more angry at the guy than I was.

Yes, I've had that happen to a few friends with German cars. MB, and other cousins in the German family. This is exactly why I am getting a PPI. I will demand a fax of everything and a phone call from the mechanic who does it. I made it clear with PPI it won't go to the owners mechanic. I make it sound like it's a CSI investigation, but most times my paranoia and generally jaded outlook pays off.

[PARSHOOT1]

A healthy amount of skepticism & paranoia especially on an out of state deal is in order. Good luck. Keep us posted.